Sales of pine seedlings finally on the increase

Following many years of decline, Södra is now seeing a clear trend break in the proportion of Scots pine seedlings sold.

“This spring, some 1.7 million pine seedlings are being dispatched from our Flåboda Nursery, while the figure for spring 2016 is 2.5 million seedlings. In total, Södra will deliver 3.5 million pine seedlings this year, which is up about two million on the low point,” says Ida Karlsson, Manager at Flåboda Nursery.

For a period of five years, Södra has been strongly committed to increasing the proportion of pine in the forests of southern Sweden. The results from last year’s moose-grazing inventory showed that pine sites are poorly planted or use incorrect tree species.

In a future with expected climate change and increased risk of drought, the decline of the Scots pine tree in Götaland entails a major risk.

Spruce, which is increasingly being planted on pine sites, risks being affected by water shortages, nutritional deficiencies and damage due to drought. A crucial reason for planting spruce on Scots pine sites are a poor balance between the availability of fodder and supplies of moose and deers game. Today, pine sites account for 20 percent of the land, while only 10 percent is rejuvenated with pine. A few years ago, sales of pine seedlings were down at a level of 5 percent.

“Södra’s Flåboda and Falkenberg nurseries are prepared to further increase production if so requested by the forest owners. At Flåboda, we can double pine production,” says Ida Karlsson.
http://www.sodra.com/en/Pressroom/News/Posts/Priority-1/Sales-of-pine-seedlings-finally-on-the-increase/